[Player Plot] Taking Down the Hearts Gang

[nightplumes]

WHO: Sylus & volunteers
WHAT: Raiding the Hearts Gang HQ
WHEN: February 9th, beginning at 10pm
WHERE: The Casino
WARNINGS: Violence, forced experimentation, NPC deaths

the meet-up

SUMMARY

• Sylus meets the volunteers outside the Casino, taking them all straight to the Hearts HQ
• Someone attempts to press a 'panic button' but is stopped from doing so
• A strange red mist shorts the entrance door, unlock, and Sylus disappears

As it turns out, the co-ordinates Sylus gave (evident to anyone who checked them beforehand) are to the front of the Casino proper. He’s waiting there at exactly fifteen minutes to ten in the evening three days after the day of his initial network post, looking so casual that it’s hard to believe he’s about to waltz into the centre of a gang’s headquarters. This will be the only opportunity that anyone will get to have a conversation with him prior to action being taken.

There’s a large black bird with keen red eyes perched on his shoulder which, on closer inspection, can be seen to be entirely mechanical. The bird is quiet, but seems to be watching anyone who comes close.

At five minutes to the hour, he starts idly checking his gun - a large calibre pistol.

On the hour exactly, he exhales a soft breath and pushes himself away from the wall beside the Casino doors.

“Let’s go.”

Anyone who is late will just have to catch up.

the raid

SUMMARY

• The group can move into the HQ itself, meeting some resistance as they go
• Several victims are still able to be saved, though some would be found to be beyond saving
• There is research data and files which can be copied if the firewalls protecting them can be broken through
• Sylus can be located in the back offices

The group draws more than a little attention as they move into the building and towards the quarter holding the rows of slot machines. As if somebody had sent a warning in advance, that area of the Casino is oddly clear of its usual patrons and there is nobody standing guard on the entrance into the Hearts’ ‘offices’.

Sylus does not hesitate to push both of the double doors open at once as he walks through. The inside of the room is clean and fresh, with a few chairs for waiting visitors. There is a large set of heavy doors to the right, which Sylus briefly glances at on his way in.

“We have a meeting with your leaders,” he drawls lazily to the suddenly fearful-looking individual seated at the front desk. They move, as if to slide their hand beneath the desk, and are abruptly thrown back against the rear wall. Coils of red-black mist hold them there as Sylus lets out a little ‘tch’ of disapproval. Oh no you don’t.

“It’s a surprise. You don’t want to spoil it, do you?”

The smirk on Sylus’ face is dangerous as that same red mist spills across the carpeted floor, coiling around the feet of his companions. A keypad next to the doors lets out a protesting beep, followed by a peculiar mechanical whine, and the screen flashes once.

And the doors open.

⌖ ⌖ ⌖

Once inside the Hearts’ headquarters there will be roughly three minutes before several alarms begin to go off from further inside the facility. This will put any guards inside on high alert.

The red mist rolls forwards, haunting every step of those who venture inside. Sylus, who had no intention of leading anyone and merely trusts that those who decided to come along will follow their own agendas and not get themselves killed, steps through the wide doorway and vanishes like a spectre. The person he pinned up against the wall stays there, struggling to free themselves to no avail.

Immediately inside the door is a computer lab staffed by several people who will try to run. Some of them will head deeper in while a few will attempt to bolt for the door in a panic. Many of the computers will, as a result, not be shut down and will be free for anyone browsing, though these ones appear to be mostly ‘innocent’ financial records and Casino-related communications.

It’s only on venturing further inside, following in the tracks of the staff who fled, that the true nature of the Hearts gang begins to emerge. Most - though not quite all - doors will mysteriously open ahead of any exploring parties, shorted out by that same red mist that Sylus had conjured in the foyer.

Exploring will uncover the areas where monster experiments and research are taking place. These areas are staffed as well, and though some of the people here will also attempt to escape - mostly the scientists themselves - armed guards will react to the intrusion with violence. The scientists, if caught, will plead for their lives.

While many of the victims found in these areas are already twisted beyond saving some can be rescued and taken to hospital for treatment. Those rescued will not be able to make it out alone and will need to be escorted. The ones too far gone can be either left contained for now, or neutralised.

There are two large server rooms holding a vast amount of data behind aggressive firewalls.

Amongst the various laboratories, computer banks, and sterile operating theatres there are common areasand even a couple of small kitchens and break rooms, as an oddly jarring reminder that those working in this place are also people, in spite of their actions.

The alarms will continue for ten minutes before abruptly stopping.

And the red mist seeps inexorably into every room.

Once the gang members inside have been either killed, subdued, or captured, the base can be more thoroughly explored and anything that people want to take or investigate can be looked into almost entirely unheeded.

⌖ ⌖ ⌖
Sylus can be located in the back rooms of the facility - a small collection of plush offices - where he has the gang's current leaders - three of them - gagged and tied to chairs. He does not seem to be in a hurry to decide what he's going to do with them. Perhaps someone who suggested mob justice might not be the right thing to do had turned his head? Or... maybe he's just taking his time.

It's hard to say.

The other back room offices contain confidential paperwork relating to the gang's movements, black market finances, and future research proposals.

(( Please direct any questions to the plotting post! ))

Comments

Sylus | OTA

[nightplumes]

Before the raid on the HQ, Sylus is (what appears to be...) standing idle outside the Casino. He's leaning against one of the walls near to the main doors, his arms folded loosely against his torso and his head tilted to keep his gaze trained on the various comings and goings while he waits.

And as he sees someone approaching - someone who locks eyes with him, specifically - he raises one eyebrow just a little and allows a subtle shift of his posture.

"Well I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes to make sure they're on time."

⌖ ⌖ ⌖

Later, moving through the facility itself, a careful eye might spot a flash here and there of a white-haired man in dark clothes pausing briefly, taking in the surroundings, then moving on. Leaving just enough time to call out. If anyone makes it up to the back offices before the alarms turn off, they will find him standing in the corridor as if considering his options.

Wherever he might be found, the red mist swirling through the entire facility is clearly sourced from him and is pooling around his feet in a lazily spinning vortex.

Later still, in the back offices, he's got three people subdued and tied to chairs. One of them looks like they put up more of a fight than the others and has a black eye and bloody nose for their trouble. All three of them seem... oddly dazed, and Sylus is sitting in an armchair tapping the muzzle of his gun against his chin, thinking.

That he hasn't simply shot them yet doesn't mean that he won't. But why would he rush when he has the upper hand?

The Meet Up

[abloodydurge]

Voxed arrived outside of the casino as directed by the mastermind behind this plan. He approaches Sylus with a nod. He brought only the armor, robes, and dagger he brought with him from his world. His eyes take in the large pistol in the man's hand and the strange metal bird the man has on his shoulder. Such an interesting automaton. His eyes get lost staring at the bird for a moment as a strangely familiar sense of admiration floods the dragonborn. It takes a food few minutes for the feeling to ebb enough for him to finally address the man before him.

"Yes. I do my best to be on time. Your...metal friend is quite interesting."

The Dark Urge | OTA | CW/TW: Torture, murder, gore, loss of control, mentions of orgasm

[abloodydurge]

The Meet Up

Voxed arrived outside of the casino as directed by the mastermind behind this plan. After his discussion with Sylus, his moves to the shadows to stand and wait. His red eyes taking in the others who come to join in this assault. This justice? This glorious bloodshed. His fingers twitch in anticipation. The Dark Urge whispering dark vile fantasies to him. This is his chance to sate them. To put them to some use. Not a good use but simply a pragmatic one.

The Raid Part 1 CW/TW: Sliding into madness and torture.

The pinned man on the wall has Voxed's attention. The one who tried to alert the leaders inside of their approach. He slowly walks up to the man, those fiery eyes taking in his form. He's stuck. Trapped. Helpless. He could use his dagger but why when there are such interesting impliments on the desk?

"Do you know what they do here?" he asks as his fingers wrap around a pair of sharp scissors. He opens the blades slowly, then looking at the man attached to the wall, waiting for an answer. There is begging to leave him alone. That he doesn't do anything. Not directly. A smile spreads over the dragon's features. He steps closer, bringing the scissors closer, and starts to cut.

Snip. Snip! CRACK! Slice! SCREAM!

"Wrong answer. For every one you give me. For every lie. I take," The bloody scissors fall to the floor as Durge looks in rapt attention to the removed finger. His eyes turn back to the man on the wall.

"Lets. Try. Again."

The Raid Part 2 CW/TW: Full Dark Urge madness, gore, torture, rapid Voxed, mentions of orgasm

Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood.

The dark and vile drumbeat thrums in his head. His ruined skull and mind lost to the dark urge within his mind. The violence he commits to those he catches is dreadful. He takes his time with each one if he can. One of the staff from the first computer lab is the first. He is grabbed by the Dark Urge and shocked with lightning from his very hand. Then he is slammed onto one of the desks, knocking off everything else. His eyes are wide and wild. A grin splits his face as he pants and growls. Words are sparce. He growls, purrs, and laughs as he mutilates the first staffer.

Pencils, scissors, a ruler, and a letter opener are used to pierce, stab, and slice. Blood runs down the desk and stains the floor below. Only when the body is well passed dead, the light completely gone from the scared and terrified eyes of the lab worker, does the Durge stop. Then he kneels in the blood and starts to draw. He circles the desk with the blood, then shapes long spikes around the circle. Three on either side.

A shiver runs through his entire being and he arches. He practically purrs as a blissful look crosses his face. Only for him to stand and move deeper in. He licks the blood off his fingers, tail swaying playfully behind him.

"You will all die for me, won't you? They'll die for me. All of them. All of you," he growls to himself. Security comes running toward him, guns raised.

"Detano!" With a flick of his hand, a sonic boom of thunder erupts between the guards, ringing their ears and sending them reeling. Their guns are damaged from the concussive blast. Then Voxed lifts off the ground and flies toward them as he slams his dagger into one of them. There is a blast like thunder as the hit connects, slicing through his clothes and flesh. All while the dragonborn continues to grin wildly. He is just getting started.

Evil Morty | OTA

[escapethecurve]

The Raid

Morty was here for the data. The research held by the Hearts Gang is invaluable. To let some heroic and shortsighted hero types destroy it would be a crime. Evil Morty makes sure to show up on time and waited quietly for the raid to begin. The way inside is easy enough, especially with that smoke sabotaging all of the security along the way. Morty makes a note to scan the smoke and try to get a sample of it another time.

Best not to anger their raid organizer before he has the data he wants. Slipping in with the others, Morty makes his way to the first computers they find. He pulls a wire from his eye patch and plugs it into the computer, quickly downloading the gang's financial information and any bank information. Then he deletes it once it's all back up onto his own systems.

That's a lot of Moon Coins that could be put to good use.

Next he'll head deeper in. Finding the server banks and computers isn't difficult. He connects himself to it again and starts battling the aggressive firewall. The screens show the rapid programming being written, unwritten, and rewritten again between him and the firewall as he hacks though it using the keyboard before him and his mind. It does take most of his focus to try and crack.

Should anyone come in, looking to damage the servers or not, Morty does speak up.

"Kindly don't break shit until I'm done," he says with a bit of snark mixed into his usually neutral tone.